Prabowo Orders Revocation of Permits Over Forest Fires

JAKARTA, Aug 25 — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the revocation of business permits for companies suspected of deliberately burning land, as haze from forest fires spreads to Malaysia and Singapore. Speaking at a coordination meeting in Riau, Prabowo warned that even the slightest indication of corporate involvement would lead to immediate licence cancellation. “Any corporation, whoever they are, if there is even the slightest indication they ordered the burning, we will revoke their licences. I am not playing around,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Prabowo also urged authorities to prevent individuals from setting fires, stressing the need for stronger public education in villages. He said communities should seek government assistance for land clearing rather than resorting to burning, with local governments, the military, and police able to help farmers through organized groups.

Permits

During a visit to Palembang, Prabowo instructed officials to act swiftly when fires emerge. “Don’t wait until it becomes a hotspot. Please go directly … Water sources can be drilled in those areas,” he said, calling for boreholes in fire-prone regions to ensure rapid firefighting.

The government is intensifying efforts with satellite-based hotspot monitoring, helicopter water bombing, and weather modification operations to encourage rainfall. Prabowo emphasized strict enforcement of the law, underscoring his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on illegal burning.

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